TMJ Specialist

Inspiring Smiles

General, Cosmetic, & Periodontal Dentistry located in Cumming, GA

Do you get headaches often? Have jaw pain? These are all symptoms of TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. The staff at Inspiring Smiles in Cumming, Georgia, provide quality TMJ and headache care that can relieve pain like you never imagined. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Page Barden, DDS, MSD, do not hesitate to call the office or book online today.

TMJ Q & A

What is TMJ and what causes it?

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, headaches, and migraines can arise when there is an imbalance in your bite or occlusion, but other causes may be to blame, too, such as:

Imbalance among the muscles of the joints, jaw, head, and neck

Stress imbalance and home care

Overall wear on the teeth

Grinding or clenching teeth

Different types of materials used to restore teeth

Old restorations that have worn down

What are the symptoms of TMJ?

Signs and symptoms of TMJ vary, but they often include:

Pain or tenderness in your jaw

Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints

Aching pain in and around your ear

Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing

Aching facial pain

Locking of the joint

Difficulty opening/closing the mouth

A clicking noise during chewing

Because there are so many possible reasons for TMJ, successful resolution of TMJ problems requires state-of-the-art technology and a whole-health approach to treatment.

What types of TMJ and headache technology are available?

The team at Inspiring Smiles use a 3D computerized system that can accurately and objectively measure occlusal, or bite. They measure not only the force of the bite, but also the timing of the teeth touching, where they close, and where there are separations.

To treat TMJ, Inspiring Smiles uses four modalities to balance and relax the muscles and joints of the jaw, head, and neck. They are:

Ultrasound

An ultrasound helps break up scar tissue and adhesions, bringing blood flow to the affected areas.

Massage

Massage helps relax the muscles in and around the jaw, bringing blood flow to the area and stimulating healing.

Alpha-Stim Microcurrent

With this procedure, a low electrical current that produces ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the major source of energy for cellular reactions) relaxes and unwinds the trigger points that were located during the massage portion of treatment.

Low-Level Laser

A non-heat laser light sends a signal to the muscles and nerves to produce ATP energy, allowing the muscles to relax. This treatment typically helps decrease the healing time of the muscles and joints by 25-35%.

How successful are these technologies?

These technologies have proven very successful. That’s why Inspiring Smiles pays special attention to your personal needs and is sure to take a three-component (bite/occlusion imbalance, muscle/joint imbalance, and stress imbalance) approach when treating your TMJ. The technologies are only effective if every possible cause is being considered and treated.

When you’re ready to say goodbye to TMJ pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to Inspiring Smiles. Call the office or book an appointment online today.